Info-IBMPC@WSMR-SIMTEL20.ARMY.MIL ("Info-IBMPC Digest") (06/01/91)
Info-IBMPC Digest Sat, 1 Jun 91 Volume 91 : Issue 132
Today's Editor:
Gregory Hicks - Rota Spain <GHICKS@WSMR-Simtel20.Army.Mil>
Today's Topics:
Clocks
Delayed reboot
Re: Windows 3.0 consumes extended memory
Re: Preventing Floppy boot-up (V91 #118)
WordPerfect & PS
XT battery clock problems
Today's Queries:
.EXE format, overlays, DOS fn 4B03h
CMOS problem
Emulation Program
Directly accessing streamer
Info-IBMPC Digest V91 #120
Problems with Western Digital Hard Disk Card
Upgrading an XT
Appliance or Light Controller Interface for a PC
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Date: Tue, 21 May 91 11:31:00 EDT
From: Steve Rafferty <E7L8RAF%TOWSONVX.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Clocks
Since there have been some questions about clocks lately, I
thought I would ask about a curious problem.
I have an AT style clone running DOS 3.3. I use Bitcom as my
communications software. From time to time, the time represented on
the Bitcom screen is shown to be 12 to 20 hours ahead of what it should
be. When the time is wrong, that wrong time is also displayed when I
run Quattro. If I use the Time command in DOS I am also given that
same wrong time.
This is the weird part. Some time later, without turning off or
rebooting the machine - the time has reverted back to the correct time.
This "problem" began when I started using Bitcom.
This does not really cause any difficulties, it just makes me
wonder.
Ideas, comments?
Thanks
Steve
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 91 17:00:56 EDT
From: David Kirschbaum <kirsch@usasoc.soc.mil>
Subject: Delayed reboot
In Info-IBMPC #122:
>Date: 7 May 91 11:35:00 GMT+109:13
>From: "V70D::HUNTRESS" <huntress%v70d.decnet@npt.nusc.navy.mil>
[Problem details deleted]
>Here's my question: Is there any way to force a warm or cold after X
>minutes? This must run in the background so I can run my loader.
>Aren't there some countdown timers accessable in a PC?
Hmmm, hope I have the address right!
Gary, first the bad news: No, no countdown timers in a PC. But the
good news: We can provide one! I'm sending under separate cover
(TOADBOOT.ZIP, uuencoded) a space-age timer just perfect for your
purposes (assuming delay ranges from 1 to 9 minutes). Yell directly to
me if any problems, more bells & whistles desired, etc.
[... Text deleted ...]
For the rest of you, I'll be putting it up at SIMTEL20 .. a trivial
exercise, but maybe someone else needs to do this. Look for
TOADBOOT.ZIP.
David Kirschbaum
Toad Hall
kirsch@usasoc.soc.mil
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 91 17:55 MET
From: "Jeroen W. Pluimers / Jeroen Smulders" <FTHSMULD@rulgl.LeidenUniv.nl>
Subject: Re: Windows 3.0 consumes extended memory
>I have a 386 with 640K base and 3Meg extended memory. Before running
>WINDOWS v3.0, the MEM command says "3Meg extended RAM, 3Meg available".
>After running windows (enhanced mode) and exiting, MEM reports "3Meg
>extended RAM, 0 available". The only device driver I have loaded
>HIMEM.SYS (the XMS driver) [...]
The memory is still available, but your -old - memory utility is not
aware of it
Jeroen W. Pluimers
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 1991 19:42:52 GMT
From: valley@gsbsun.uchicago.edu (Doug Dougherty)
Subject: Re: Preventing Floppy boot-up (Security from Floppy Boot) (V91 #118)
Keywords: floppy drive disable
In comp.sys.ibm.pc.digest you write:
>I know that there was talk earlier about preventing floppy boot up on
>drive A or B drive but I missed the most of the discussion. Does
>anyone have info, a program, or any other help on this topic. Any help
>would be appreciated.
Please let me know of any developments you become aware of in this
area. I'm very interested in this sort of thing.
I've always thought you could do it just by getting a key switch
(available for a few bucks at Radio Shack) and hooking it into the
power line of the floppy drive. If you were adventurous, you could
probably use the key switch that's already there on the AT boxes, since
nobody ever uses that switch for its originally intended purpose.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 20 May 91 23:48:59 CDT
From: Ed Garay <U12570%UICVM@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: WordPerfect & PS
On Mon, 20 May 91 22:10:56 -0400 Jun Guo said:
> I want to print out a document in WordPerfect format on a Apple
>LaserWriter print on a Unix system. So I print the doc to a file in WP
>using Apple LW printer driver. I think the file is in PostScript
>format. Then I upload the PS file to the Unix system and print there.
>But it didn't work.
Unfortunately, WordPerfect's PostScript driver leaves too much to be
desired. It produces a total non-conformant PostScript, that does not
follow the standard conventions or guidelines, and what is worse, it
outputs only LineFeeds between PostScript records, instead of the usual
Carriage Return-LineFeed. As a result, the PostScript file saved to
disk is just one huuuge looong line which is hard to deal with and
error prone.
WordPerfect's current standpoint on this matter is that there is no
problem because hardly anyone is complaining about it, and after all,
they say, that the PC WordPerfect software was never meant to support
printing across platforms.
I didn't liked their answer so I filed a program enhancement request to
correct the matter (at least, they should give us the option of
selecting whether we want the usual CR-LF line endings instead of the
"byte-saving" LF-only record terminator).
If you are interested in filling a similar request, call the Laser
Printer Hotline at 1-800-541-5170. It only takes five minutes. You may
also want to contact WordPerfect via email and let them know your
feelings about this annoying problem. They can be reached on Bitnet at
WPCORP@BYUVAX, on Compuserve (via Internet) at 72460.461@Compuserve.Com
or 73447.754@Compuserve.Com. Their Customer Support FAX number is
1-801-222-4377.
Of course, the more users they hear from regarding a problem, the more
susceptible they will be to admitting and correcting the problem.
In the mean time, by the way, write yourself a little program on the PC
to replace each linefeed in the PS file to a carriage return/linefeed.
Also, I recently read that someone has posted to Simtel a program to
fix WordPerfect-generated PostScript files; it is called PSFIX and it
can be found in:
PD1:<MSDOS.POSTSCRIPT>
PSFIX.ZIP
Good luck, hope this helps, and please tell WP to fix their PS driver.
--- Ed Garay
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 91 09:56:18 +0200
From: S89406316%HSEPM1.HSE.NL@uga.cc.uga.edu
Subject: XT battery clock problems
>...every time I boot my machine, the year is about 70 years in the
>future while the time, day, and month are all OK. When I use the
>little utility that came with the computer to reset the time, it does
>not work;
Are you sure you are using the right parameters with your battery-clock
utility?
To change the time of the battery clock on an XT, most CLOCK or TIMER
(or whatever) utilities require a parameter to set the battery clock,
e.g. "/i". It then asks for the date and time to set the battery clock
to.
Every time you fire up the computer, the clock utility must be run using a
parameter (such as "/s") to copy the battery clock information to the
system clock. Sometimes, a device driver in config.sys is used to set
the system clock, but my experience is that the .COM or .EXE version
(if applicable) is usually more reliable. Another advantage of the
.COM/.EXE is, that the battery clock is not changed when some
ill-behaving program changes the system clock.
Note: This is only a *suggestion* of what could be wrong. You said you
installed a new DOS version. Maybe you (or the SETUP program?)
overwrote your AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS and while rebuilding it, you
forgot to include the clock program. Hardware-wise, a new DOS version
should not pose a problem (as far as I know).
Note 2: All this only goes for XT-type computers. AT's have a battery
clock on the system board, which doesn't need any initialization
program.
#include <cliche.h>
>Good luck!
Jac Goudsmit
Student, Information Technology
Hogeschool Eindhoven, The Netherlands
S89406316@HSEPM1.HSE.NL
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 1991 04:32:31 GMT
From: peter@atlas.abccomp.oz.au (Peter Barker)
Subject: .EXE format, overlays, DOS fn 4B03h
We are writing an overlay manager, using DOS function 4B03h (load
overlay). We want to append some information to the overlay file so
our program can read it, but have it ignored by DOS function 4B03h
(perhaps in a similar way to that used by MicroSoft's CodeView).
We originally assumed that the DOS loader obtained all its information
about the contents of the file being loaded from the header at the
start of the .EXE file. In this case we would be able to append
information to the end of the file, and the loader would ignore it, as
it does with symbol information provided by the linker for CodeView.
Unfortunately this is not the case - the file does not load correctly.
Does anyone have any information about how symbolic information is
stored in the .EXE by linkers? We should then be able to use the same
method.
Thank you,
Peter Barker | Internet peter@atlas.abccomp.oz.au
TurboSoft Pty Ltd | JANET peter%atlas.abccomp.oz.au@uk.ac.ukc
248 Johnston St, Annandale | UUCP uunet!munnari!atlas.abccomp.oz!peter
NSW 2038 Australia | Telephone +(612) 552 1266
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 91 19:31:01 EDT
From: Bill Jones <wejones@crdec7.apgea.army.mil>
Subject: CMOS problem
I have a gateway-2000, 20 MHz 386 system. Several months ago, I tried
to install some new hardware and software, namely a second hard disk, a
new board, and Windows 3. I also switched from DOS 3.3 to 4.01 and
then back to 3.3 again (too complicated to explain why & how). I also
lost my CMOS battery, and had to reprogram the CMOS. Anyway, after a
strange sequence of events,:
My system began going very slow during the initial memory check before
dos boots.
I started getting an "XCMOS Checksum failure" error (before DOS
boots).
After DOS boots, the system seems to work OK.
The CMOS setup seems to have the proper information (at least with
respect to time, drives, monitors, keyboards, etc.
Questions are:
* What does the XCMOS error refer to? Since it is a checksum error,
is it like a parity error or just that the setup doesn't match the
equipment it sees there? What is it comparing the data to? If parity,
how is this sensed by software. If an end of block checksum, would it
help to discharge the battery again, and reprogram from scratch?
* How does one access the XCMOS memmory other than using the built
in setup program, (ie where is it in memory).
* Where is/are the chip/chips located? (ie on the motherboard, drive
controller board or video board ?) Is it possible that there is more
than one CMOS memory with the same type information? (Ie could there be
CMOS on the disk controller board that has different info than CMOS on
the motherboard?
* When I first got my computer, the CMOS setup described my 65 MB
RLL drive as a 40 MB drive. This seemed strange, but I had read about
RLL drives functioning by lying to DOS, etc, so I left it alone. When
I reprogrammed the CMOS to put in the second drive, I likewise lied
about it, but have since changed both to reflect the true size of the
drive. How might this have affected my problems? Which should it be?
Thanks in advance.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 91 18:53:13 TUR
From: Turgut Kalfaoglu <TURGUT%TREARN.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Emulation Program
Hi. I just got an SDLC card, and would like to call our IBM mainframe
from my PC. My first attempts were miserable, IBM Emulation Program
Vers 2 and 3 both gave '76 Software Error' - without further clue, and
let me back to DOS abruptly. Then I tried OS/2 1.2's Communication
Manager, but no luck either.
The mainframe has several dial-up lines that people use from their PCs,
but I guess my PC is not compatible enough for Emulation Program. For
OS/2's, I heard that the mainframe configuration needed to be changed?
Does anyone know anything about this?
PS: I tried removing all cards from my PC, except the Floppy/Hard disk
controller (WD/RLL), and VGA card.. No luck. -turgut
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 91 19:07:45 MEZ
From: Thomas <UNP072@DBNRHRZ1.bitnet>
Subject: Directly accessing streamer
Hi netfolx,
this is the same (or similar) question a asked a few digests before: is
there any possibility to access the streamer via BIOS (int 13) or (less
preferably) directly through the FDD controller? My streamer is a
Colorado DJ 10 plugged into the B-connector of my floppy controller
(that's -- to be exact -- part of the combi-controller)
(what about the idea of *booting* from tape? this would give me a real
workstation feeling... ;-)
- Thomas
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 91 16:19:09 GMT
From: ZA9RA10@SYSA.COMPUTING-SERVICES.MANCHESTER-POLY.AC.UK
Subject: Problems with Western Digital Hard Disk Card
Can anyone help me with the following problem, I would greatly
appreciate any assistance.
The problem is with a Western Digital hard disc card (I think that the
model is WD 384R) which is installed in an Amstrad PC1512 DD (an 8086
XT clone with twin 5.25 floppy drives). I did not install the card in
this machine and the owner has no documentation available, he told me
that the card was installed by a friend and worked perfectly until
recently.
On power up the disc motor starts and spins for about 5 seconds then
stops. BIOS does not recognise the existence of any fixed disk and the
mystifying numerical digits - 1701 appear on the screen, a few seconds
later you are prompted to insert a system disk in drive A. FDisk
reports no fixed disk as does Norton Utilities. I have had the hard
disc card removed from the expansion slot and throughly cleaned the
contacts then replaced it, however the problem still persists.
I would welcome any solutions or suggestions. Bob Gowans
Address : Email
R.K.Gowans : BITNET/EARN - ZA9RA10@SA.CS.MANP.AC.UK
User Support Officer : or - ZA9RA10%UK.AC.MANP.CS.SA@UKACRL
Computer Services Unit :
799 Wilmslow Rd. : INTERNET - ZA9RA10%SA.CS.MANP.AC.UK@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
Didsbury : or - ZA9RA10%SA.CS.MANP.AC.UK@NSFNET-RELAY.AC.UK
Manchester M20 7RR : or - ZA9RA10@SA.CS.MANP.AC.UK
ENGLAND :
Tel. 061-247 2248 :
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Date: Tue, 21 May 91 07:38:27 EDT
From: Dan Newcombe <STDN%MARIST.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu>
Subject: Upgrading an XT
Okay...the age old advice getter...
I have an XT compatiable that I am working to upgrade. I am getting a
new CPU chip (V-20 10Mhz) but now I need to find a "Turbo Board" so
that I can increase the BUS speed. What this board is: It plugs into
the CPU slot and you plug the CPU into it. It also has a faster timer
chip on it and a cable to plug into the timer chip slot.
1) Does anyone know where I can find these?
I want to get a 3.5" 1.44Mb drive.
2) In addition to a new ROM BIOS to recognize the drive, do I need to
get a new drive controller card. The one I have recognizes 2 5.25".
HARD DRIVES?
3) What would be a good type (40-60Mb) to put in this dinosaur (I have
a 20 Meg RLL)
4) Video Card: I have a CGA card and an RGB monitor. Works fine. For
a day I had a Paradise AutoSwitch EGA card, which said it would work
with an RGB monitor(Or monochrome), but when I installed it with either
of the two : BLANK SCREEN. Any idea why???
Thanks in advance for your help,
-Dan
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 21 May 91 12:55:39 EDT
From: Jean-Serge Gagnon <JSG8A%ACADVM1.UOTTAWA.CA@VMD.CSO.UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Appliance or Light Controller Interface for a PC
Is there anyone out there that has heard of a book or technical paper
explaining how those AC-line-controlled switches for lights, power
outlets and other things that they sell at electronics stores like
Radio-Shack?
They are little modules that can replace power outlets or light
switches in a home. Once that is done, you can turn on and off
appliances, your radio, your lights and dim up and down lights etc...
using a special module for that. Also with the controller modules, you
are limited to, I think, a maximum of 16 or 32 appliances, which is
fine, but what I would like to do is control these things with a PC.
What I need to find out, is what the "command syntax" is for these
modules and also the type of signal that they need. I know that they
communicate through the AC line and not through FM air transmissions or
UHF or whatever.
I want to build a card on a PC to do this with the appropriate
software, but I have pre-conceived ideas about it, so if there is
someone out there that knows of a card that already exists, then there
might be no need to re-invent the wheel, as they say!
Anyways, any input would be helpfull. Thanks in advance...
| Jean-Serge Gagnon <JSG8A@ACADVM1.UOTTAWA.CA> |
| Specialiste en Equipement | Computer Hardware |
| Informatique | Maintenance Specialist |
| Universite d'Ottawa | University of Ottawa |
| (613) 564-7813 | (613) 564-7813 |
[Contact Radio-Electronics (a Gernsback Publication, also a monthly
magazine) at:
Radio-Electronics
500-B Bi-County Blvd
Farmingdale, NY 11735
and ask for details on how to get the "Circuit Cellar" by Steve Circia.
Steve had a series of articles for several years, now discontinued, in
this magazine that addressed topics such as this. Steve also designed
an interface such as the one you describe. He also published details
on how these devices work.
Hope this helps.
gph]
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End of Info-IBMPC Digest V91 #132
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